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20
Jan 2022
Ripon council leader calls swimming club price hike 'disgusting'
The leader of Ripon City Council has said it's "appalling and disgusting" that a volunteer-run children's swimming club won't be able to use the city's new £15m pool after Harrogate Borough Council tripled its fee.
The Stray Ferret reported yesterday that Ripon City Swimming Club has been offered space at the Jack Laugher Leisure Centre, but only if it stumped up £12,500 a year — almost three times what it was previously paying. This has effectively out-priced them.
The pool will be run by Brimhams Active, the arms-length leisure company set up by Harrogate Borough Council last year.
The club said it was 'absolutely gutted" it won't be able to afford to use the pool, which is due to open this month although no date has yet been set.
Ripon council leader, Cllr Andrew Williams, told the Stray Ferret that the move by Brimhams Active sent a negative message to young families in Ripon. He said;
Read more:
- Swimming club ‘mortified’ after Harrogate council hikes fee for new pool
- Ripon pool delay not linked to sinkhole issues, says council
Brimhams Active had wanted to amalgamate the club, which taught children to swim at the now-closed Spa Baths as far back as the 1930s, with its own swimming lessons. However, the club declined because it wanted to remain separate from the council.
Cllr Williams accused Brimhams of "exerting its commercial position unfairly". He said he plans to raise the issue at the next Ripon City Council meeting in February.
The council's response
A spokesperson for Brimhams Active said:
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